Lesson # 17

Words to know:

[m] [n] [ŋ]

This sound can be found at the This sound can be found at This sound can be found in
beginning, in the middle, and at the beginning, in the middle, the middle and at the end of
the end of words. and at the end of words. words.

As in me, camera, and swim As in no, runner, and on As in sing

Lips: Together in a “humming” Tongue tip: Firmly pressed Back of tongue: Raised
position. against gum ridge behind toward the soft palate.
Air: Continuous through the upper front teeth. Air: Continuous through the
nose. Air: Continuous through the nose.
Vocal cords: Vibrating nose. Vocal cords: Vibrating
Vocal cords: Vibrating
Beginning Middle End Beginning Middle End Middle End
me army am no any in anger sting
may among him new many on thank tongue
mat lemon them net money can finger walking
more animal seem know window when banging feeling
milk camera name knee banana then youngest running
mean summer time nail dinner fine single strong
month hammer room neck tennis begin longest singing
matter policeman come need runner again hungry belong
minute something comb night candle tin

The letter n is almost always The letters ng or ngue at the

pronounced [n].
EXCEPTION: When n follows
m in the same syllable. It is
usually NOT pronounced; it’s
silent.
column / solemn / hymn
end of words are always
pronounced [ ŋ].
wrong / sing / walking / tongue
The letter n before g or k is
usually pronounced [ ŋ].
hungry / single / thank / drink
The consonant [m]

[m]- -[m]- -[m]

1. me 1. immediate 1. seem
2. meat 2. permit (v.) 2. Tim
3. miss 3. amaze 3. name
4. made 4. cement 4. same
5. mood 5. imagine 5. room
Sentences:

1. I only make a small amount of money every month.

2. They have the same name and that’s the problem.

The consonant [n]

[n]- -[n]- -[n]

1. knee 1. beneath 1. mean

2. need 2. planet 2. in
3. name 3. innate 3. pain
4. nod 4. internet 4. lane
5. note 5. unnatural 5. done
Sentences:

1. No. I can’t see you now. Can you come back at noon?
2. I was so nervous on the canoe that I didn’t notice what
happened to Nick.

Contrast [m] and [n]

-[m] -[n]

1. seem seen

2. team teen

3. Tim tin

4. them then

5. same sane

Sentences:

1. My son had some cake and left for school.

2. He seemed to have seen a ghost.
The consonant [ŋ]

-[ŋ] -[ŋ]-

1. sing 1. singer

2. sink 2. singing

3. thing 3. hanger

4. song 4. hanging

5. doing 5. bringing

Sentences:

1. The young singer sang a song.

2. English is not my mother tongue but I think I am doing fine.
Contrast [ŋ] and [n]

-[ŋ] -[n]

1. sing sin

2. king kin

3. fang fan

4. tongue ton

5. sung sun

Sentences:

1. The thing you brought home is really thin.

2. He rang the doorbell and ran away.
Listen and repeat the following sentences and be sure you pronounce the [m] sound
correctly

1. arm in arm
2. lemon and lime
3. summertime
4. What’s your name?
5. What time is it?
6. Don’t blame me.
7. The poem doesn’t rhyme.
8. Sam is a common American name.
9. What time is my appointment?
10. Mom makes homemade ice cream.
Read the following riddles and try to guess the answer.

Read the paragraph aloud. Fill in the blanks with one of the words from the list below.

than then on in can can’t into and down

When John got home, his wife Gwen was _______ the kitchen. She was _______ the phone

again. It was later _______ he realized; it was already ten o’clock! John was so tired he went to

his bedroom. _______ he sat _______ on his bed and took off his shoes _______ socks.

“_______ you get off that phone?”, he called to Gwen. “Yes, I _______,” she yelled back. But

by the time Gwen walked _______ the room, John was fast asleep!
 Listen and repeat the words and sentences. Then read them to a
classmate.

[m] [n] [ ŋ]
Whim Win Wing
Some Sun Song
Rum Run Rung
Ram Ran Rang
Kim Kin King
Is that a clam? Is that a clan? Is that a clang?
He is Kim. He is kin. He is king.
The bam was sudden. The ban was sudden. The bang was sudden.
They had rum. They had run. They had rung.
It was a whim. It was a win. It was a wing.
[n] [ŋ] [m] [ŋ]
My son sang some songs.
[m] [ŋ] [ŋ] [n]
Tim thinks that thing is thin.
[m] [n] [ŋ]
Kim is kin to the king.
[m] [n] [ŋ]
It’s a whim to win the wings.
[m] [n] [m] [ŋ]
I seem to have seen him sing.

Write the correct symbol for each Bold word. [m], [n], [ŋ], [k], [g]
Listen and repeat the words. Circle only the words that are pronounced with [ŋ]

bring tangerine along engage

anger swing talking sitting
hang tangle sponge stingy
angel danger grin lunch
dancing sink running bank

Read the joke aloud. Pay attention to the boldfaced words with the consonants [m], [n],
and [ŋ].

[n] [n] [n] [m] [ŋ] [ŋ] [m]

One day seven-year-old Norma was sitting and watching her mother wash the dishes at
[n] [ŋ] [n] [n] [m] [n]
the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white
[ŋ] [n] [m] [n]
hair sticking out of her brunette head. She looked at her mother and asked, “Why are
[m] [m] [m] [m] [m]
some of your hairs white, mommy?” Her mother replied, “Well, every time that you do
[m] [ŋ] [ŋ] [m] [m] [n] [n] [n] [m] [n] [n] [m]
something wrong, it makes me unhappy, and one of my hairs turns white.” Norma
[ŋ] [ŋ] [m][n] [n] [n] [m] [m] [m]
started thinking about this for a few minutes and then said, “Mommy, how come all of
[n] [m]
grandma’s hairs are white?”
Pronunciation
Minimal Pair /m/ /n/
Words like MEAT and NEAT
 Activity 1
Listen to your teacher saying the words in Column 1 and Column 2 below.

Column 1 Column 2

Meat Neat
Mice Nice
Males Nails
Some Sun / Son
Same Sane
A mother Another
Meal Kneel
Limes Lines
Them Then
Warmed Warned
 Activity 2
Listen to your teacher saying one of the words from Activity 1. Say if you think the word is in
Column 1 or Column 2.

 Activity 3
Listen to your teacher saying two words from Activity 1. If the words are the same, circle S
below. If you think the words are different, circle D below.

1. S D 2. S D 3. S D 4. S D 5. S D
6. S D 7. S D 8. S D 9. S D 10. S D

 Activity 4
Listen to your teacher reading the sentences below. Circle the word you hear.

1. Is that meat / neat? 6. They need a mother / another.

2. I think it’s mice / nice. 7. There were only 6 limes / lines.

3. There aren’t enough males / nails. 8. She didn’t leave them / then.

4. She wants some / sun. 9. His mother warmed / warned him.

5. It’s not the same / sane answer.

 Activity 5
Imagine you are the teacher now! Work with a partner and repeat the activities above. Then
swap roles.
Pronunciation
Minimal Pair /n/ /ŋ/
Words like THIN and THING
 Activity 1
Listen to your teacher saying the words in Column 1 and Column 2 below.

Column 1 Column 2

Thin Thing
Sun Sung
Wins Wings
Ban Bang
Sins Sings
Ran Rang
Fan Fang
Kin King
 Activity 2
Listen to your teacher saying one of the words from Activity 1. Say if you think the word is in
Column 1 or Column 2.

 Activity 3
Listen to your teacher saying two words from Activity 1. If the words are the same, circle S
below. If you think the words are different, circle D below.

1. S D 2. S D 3. S D 4. S D 5. S D
6. S D 7. S D 8. S D 9. S D 10. S D

 Activity 4
Listen to your teacher reading the sentences below. Circle the word you hear.

1. He never sins / sings.

2. The ban / bang surprised everyone.
3. He had two impressive wins / wings.
4. Your brother ran / rang yesterday.
5. She had two white fans / fangs.
6. Nobody is more important than your kin / king.

 Activity 5
Imagine you are the teacher now! Work with a partner and repeat the activities above. Then
swap roles.
 ATTIC

LIVING ROOM
What time is it?